The invention facilitates remote management of a computer via a network. Remote management of a device connected to a managed computer can be effected by using the managed computer as a proxy for conducting a management action regarding the connected device on behalf of a remote computer management server.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium on which are encoded one or more computer programs and/or data structures for execution by a processor for performing remote computer management, the processor performs: receiving at a managed computer a request directly from a remote computer management server to perform a management action regarding the managed computer and a device connected to the managed computer; communicating between the managed computer and the device connected to the managed computer, wherein the managed computer and the remote computer management server are directly connected, to perform by the managed computer a new function related to the management action, wherein the new function was not previously enabled to be performed by the device and the managed computer, and transmitting from the remote computer management server to the managed computer an update to an agent application operating on the managed computer, the update including at least one dynamic link library (DLL) that when executed by the agent application allows the new function to be executed by the managed computer; loading software onto the managed computer used for effecting management of the managed computer by the remote computer management server to afford facilitating the execution of primitive functions to be executed by the managed computer, without the need for a user logon or other user intervention, including, initiate polling of the remote computer management server to identify actions to be undertaken by the software on the managed computer, wherein an administrator credential is securely bound to the software, configure the managed computer such that all communication to the remote computer management server is outbound from the managed computer thus enabling the communications to bypass firewalls and/or gateways, re-authenticate the software when a communication session between the managed computer and the remote computer management server is terminated before completion of all communications for the communication session, wherein the re-authentication is performed without loading the software again onto the managed computer; and communicating from the managed computer to the remote computer management server a result of the performance of the new function related to the management action regarding the device connected to the managed computer; receiving at the managed computer a request from the remote computer management server to perform a management action regarding the managed computer; effecting performance by the managed computer of an operation or operations that effect performance of the management action regarding the managed computer; and communicating from the managed computer to the remote computer management server a result of the performance of the management action regarding the managed computer.
A remote computer management system uses a managed computer as a proxy to manage a connected device. The managed computer receives a direct request from a remote management server to perform an action on both itself and the connected device. The managed computer then performs a new function (previously unavailable) on the connected device, enabled by a DLL update received from the remote server. The system loads software to enable basic functions on the managed computer without user interaction, including polling the remote server for tasks, using securely stored administrator credentials, and establishing outbound-only communication to bypass firewalls. If the connection is interrupted, the software re-authenticates without requiring a reload. Finally, the managed computer reports the results of actions on both itself and the connected device to the remote management server.
2. A non-transitory computer readable medium as in claim 1 , wherein the processor performs: receiving at the managed computer a request from the remote computer management server to determine whether a device is connected to the managed computer; and communicating from the managed computer to the remote computer management server the identity of a device connected to the managed computer.
In the remote management system where a managed computer acts as proxy to manage a connected device, as previously described, the managed computer also receives a request from the remote management server to determine if a device is connected. The managed computer then reports the identity of the connected device back to the remote management server. This allows the remote management server to be aware of the device connected to the managed computer without directly communicating with the device.
3. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in claim 1 , wherein: the request to perform a management action regarding the device connected to the managed computer includes an identification of a communication protocol in accordance with which communication between the managed computer and the device connected to the managed computer is to be formatted; and instructions and/or data for communicating between the managed computer and the device connected to the managed computer comprise instructions and/or data for communicating in accordance with the identified communications protocol.
In the remote management system where a managed computer acts as proxy to manage a connected device, as previously described, the request to manage the connected device includes information about the communication protocol to use. The managed computer uses this protocol to format its communication with the device. The protocol is defined by instructions and/or data provided for communicating between the managed computer and the device. This ensures compatibility between the managed computer and the connected device.
4. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in claim 3 , wherein the communication between the managed computer and the device connected to the managed computer is formatted in accordance with an SNMP protocol.
In the remote management system, where the managed computer uses a specified protocol to communicate with the connected device, as previously described, the communication between the managed computer and the device is formatted using the SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) protocol.
5. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in claim 3 , wherein the communication between the managed computer and the device connected to the managed computer is formatted in accordance with a DMI/WMI protocol.
In the remote management system, where the managed computer uses a specified protocol to communicate with the connected device, as previously described, the communication between the managed computer and the device is formatted using the DMI/WMI (Desktop Management Interface/Windows Management Instrumentation) protocol.
6. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in claim 3 , wherein the communication between the managed computer and the device connected to the managed computer is formatted in accordance with an ARP protocol.
In the remote management system, where the managed computer uses a specified protocol to communicate with the connected device, as previously described, the communication between the managed computer and the device is formatted using the ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) protocol.
7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in claim 1 , wherein the network comprises the Internet.
In the remote management system where a managed computer acts as proxy to manage a connected device, as previously described, the network connecting the managed computer and the remote computer management server is the Internet.
8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in claim 1 , wherein the device is connected to the managed computer via a local area network.
In the remote management system where a managed computer acts as proxy to manage a connected device, as previously described, the device is connected to the managed computer via a local area network (LAN).
9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in claim 1 , wherein the remote computer management server cannot communicate directly with the device connected to the managed computer.
In the remote management system where a managed computer acts as proxy to manage a connected device, as previously described, the remote computer management server cannot directly communicate with the device connected to the managed computer. The managed computer serves as the only communication path.
10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in claim 1 , wherein the device connected to the managed computer is a switch.
In the remote management system where a managed computer acts as proxy to manage a connected device, as previously described, the device connected to the managed computer is a network switch.
11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in claim 1 , wherein the device connected to the managed computer is a router.
In the remote management system where a managed computer acts as proxy to manage a connected device, as previously described, the device connected to the managed computer is a router.
12. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in claim 1 , wherein the device connected to the managed computer is a printer.
In the remote management system where a managed computer acts as proxy to manage a connected device, as previously described, the device connected to the managed computer is a printer.
13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in claim 1 , wherein the device connected to the managed computer is a scanner.
In the remote management system where a managed computer acts as proxy to manage a connected device, as previously described, the device connected to the managed computer is a scanner.
14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in claim 1 , wherein the device connected to the managed computer includes a keyboard.
In the remote management system where a managed computer acts as proxy to manage a connected device, as previously described, the device connected to the managed computer includes a keyboard.
15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in claim 1 , wherein the device connected to the managed computer includes a display monitor.
In the remote management system where a managed computer acts as proxy to manage a connected device, as previously described, the device connected to the managed computer includes a display monitor.
16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in claim 1 , wherein the device connected to the managed computer is another computer.
In the remote management system where a managed computer acts as proxy to manage a connected device, as previously described, the device connected to the managed computer is another computer.
17. A method for performing remote computer management, comprising the steps of: receiving at a managed computer a request directly from a remote computer management server to perform a management action regarding the managed computer and a device connected to the managed computer; communicating between the managed computer and the device connected to the managed computer, wherein the managed computer and the remote computer management server are directly connected, to perform by the managed computer a new function related to the management action, wherein the new function was not previously enabled to be performed by the device and the managed computer; transmitting from the remote computer management server to the managed server an update to an agent application operating on the managed computer, the update including at least one dynamic link library (DLL) that when executed by the agent application allows the new function to be executed by the managed computer; loading software onto the managed computer used for effecting management of the managed computer by the remote computer management server affording facilitating the execution of primitive functions to be executed by the managed computer, without the need for a user logon or other user intervention, including, initiate polling of the remote computer management server to identify actions to be undertaken by the software on the managed computer, wherein an administrator credential is securely bound to the software, configure the managed computer such that all communication to the remote computer management server is outbound from the managed computer thus enabling the communications to bypass firewalls and/or gateways, re-authenticate the software when a communication session between the managed computer and the remote computer management server is terminated before completion of all communications for the communication session, wherein the re-authentication is performed without loading the software again onto the managed computer; and communicating directly from the managed computer to the remote computer management server a result of the performance of the new function related to the management action regarding the device connected to the managed computer; receiving at the managed computer a request from the remote computer management server to perform a management action regarding the managed computer; effecting performance by the managed computer of an operation or operations that effect performance of the management action regarding the managed computer; and communicating from the managed computer to the remote computer management server a result of the performance of the management action regarding the managed computer.
A remote computer management method uses a managed computer as a proxy to manage a connected device. The managed computer receives a direct request from a remote management server to perform an action on both itself and the connected device. The managed computer then performs a new function (previously unavailable) on the connected device, enabled by a DLL update received from the remote server. The method loads software to enable basic functions on the managed computer without user interaction, including polling the remote server for tasks, using securely stored administrator credentials, and establishing outbound-only communication to bypass firewalls. If the connection is interrupted, the software re-authenticates without requiring a reload. Finally, the managed computer reports the results of actions on both itself and the connected device to the remote management server.
18. A system for performing remote computer management, comprising: a managed computer receiving a direct request from a remote computer management server to perform a management action regarding the managed computer and a device connected to the managed computer; a transceiver communicating between the managed computer and the device connected to the managed computer, wherein the managed computer and the remote computer management server are directly connected, to perform by the managed computer a new function related to the management action, wherein the new function was not previously enabled to be performed by the device and the managed computer, and transmit from the remote computer management server to the managed computer an update to an agent application operating on the managed computer, the update including at least one dynamic link library (DLL) that when executed by the agent application allows the new function to be executed by the managed computer; a memory loading software onto the managed computer used for effecting management of the managed computer by the remote computer management server to afford facilitating the execution of primitive functions to be executed by the managed computer, without the need for a user logon or other user intervention, including, initiate polling of the remote computer management server to identify actions to be undertaken by the software on the managed computer, wherein an administrator credential is securely bound to the software, configure the managed computer such that all communication to the remote computer management server is outbound from the managed computer thus enabling the communications to bypass firewalls and/or gateways, re-authenticate the software when a communication session between the managed computer and the remote computer management server is terminated before completion of all communications for the communication session, wherein the re-authentication is performed without loading the software again onto the managed computer; and a transmitter communicating from the managed computer directly to the remote computer management server a result of the performance of the new function related to the management action regarding the device connected to the managed computer; receiving at the managed computer a request from the remote computer management server to perform a management action regarding the managed computer; effecting performance by the managed computer of an operation or operations that effect performance of the management action regarding the managed computer; and communicating from the managed computer to the remote computer management server a result of the performance of the management action regarding the managed computer.
A remote computer management system includes a managed computer that receives direct requests from a remote management server to perform actions on itself and a connected device. A transceiver enables the managed computer to perform a new function (previously unavailable) on the connected device, enabled by a DLL update from the remote server. The system also has memory for loading software that facilitates basic functions on the managed computer without user interaction. These functions include polling the remote server for tasks, using securely stored administrator credentials, and configuring outbound-only communication to bypass firewalls. The software re-authenticates if the connection is interrupted. A transmitter reports the results of actions performed on both the managed computer and the connected device back to the remote management server.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
June 30, 2004
August 6, 2013
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